Transform Spaces, Elevate Communities
Unite people and build communities by creating vibrant centres that foster connections, creativity, and well-being. As part of the National University of Singapore (NUS), one of Asia’s leading universities, NUS SCALE's Placemaking programmes empower urban professionals to shape public spaces that bring people together and enhance quality of life.
What is Placemaking?
Placemaking breathes life into spaces, transforming them into lovable places that unite and invigorate communities. It fulfils the potential of our environment, where every neighbourhood, district, and city becomes a canvas for shared experiences and communal spirit.
Who Should Attend
Our Placemaking courses are designed for passionate professionals across various disciplines and sectors:
Place management and facility management
Urban planning, architecture and design of public spaces
Real estate development, community management and smart city innovation
Tourism management, event planning and place marketing of downtown areas
Anyone driven to create inclusive, vibrant and memorable urban spaces that bring people together
Benefits
Organisations |
Individuals |
Equip your team with innovative placemaking strategies to create engaging spaces |
Enhance your career prospects as an expert in urban placemaking |
Upskill talent in cutting-edge methods applicable across urban development projects |
Acquire in-demand skills to shape inclusive, memorable spaces that bring people together |
Lead in shaping sustainable, people-centric environments that enhance quality of life |
Expand your professional network amongst passionate peers from related and complementary disciplines in government and industry |
Upcoming Courses
PC in Vibrant Places
Placemaking Design Thinking
12 to 14 March 2025
3 Days | 9.00am to 5.30pm (Daily)
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All Courses
PC in Community Management
Digital Placemaking
3 to 4 August 2026
2 Days | 9.00am to 5.30pm (Daily)
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Either PC
Placemaking Stakeholder Engagement
22 to 23 September 2025
2 Days | 9.00am to 5.30pm (Daily)
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PC in Community Management
Building and Sustaining Communities
Date TBC
3 Days | 9.00am to 5.30pm (Daily)
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PC in Vibrant Places
Placemaking for City Spaces
22 to 23 May 2025
2 Days | 9.00am to 5.30pm (Daily)
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PC in Vibrant Places
Placemaking Event Management & Marketing
21 to 22 May 2026
2 Days | 9.00am to 5.30pm (Daily)
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PC in Community Management
Place Economics
18-19 November 2025
2 Days | 9.00am to 5.30pm (Daily)
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Advanced PC
Placemaking Contract Management
Date TBC
5 Days | 9.00am to 5.30pm (Daily)
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Advanced PC
Participatory Planning and Design
19 to 21 May, 26 to 27 May 2025
5 Days | 9.00am to 5.30pm (Daily)
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Advanced PC
Placemaking Project Management
Date TBC
5 Days | 9.00am to 5.30pm (Daily)
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Professional Certificates in Placemaking
Stack complementary courses to earn a Professional Certificate (PC) in the following areas:
Placemaking for Community Management
Placemaking for Vibrant Places
Each PC course pathway builds expertise to unite stakeholders and shape spaces that resonate with people and communities. Take your expertise to the next level by stacking the PC in Placemaking for Community Management and the PC in Placemaking for Vibrant Places towards an Advanced Professional Certificate.
Pathway 1
PC in Community Management
Placemaking Stakeholder Engagement*
2 Days
Digital Placemaking
2 Days
Building and Sustaining Communities
3 Days
Pathway 2
PC in Vibrant Places
Placemaking Stakeholder Engagement*
2 Days
Placemaking for City Spaces
2 Days
Placemaking Design Thinking
3 Days
Placemaking Event Management & Marketing
2 Days
Professional Certificates in Placemaking
Select 3 courses
Total 6 to 7 days for each PC
*This module can count towards one PC only
PC in Community Management + PC in Vibrant Places
13 - 14 Days
Placemaking Contract Management
5 Days
Placemaking Project Management
5 Days
Participatory Planning and Design
5 Days
Advanced Professional Certificates in Placemaking
Select 1 course + 2 PCs
Total 18 to 19 days
Testimonials
"I've always been curious about the built environment and, in this case for place making, I think there's a lot of parallels and similarities in terms of creating meaning and purpose, in a physical space. I think those same ideas and concepts can be adopted to some extent in creating, for example, workforce culture. And, how do we achieve that through the office or activities that is within our control.
Everything that the professor mentioned is new and thought-provoking to me. And, certainly, there's a lot of useful concepts. And it actually helps us appreciate also not just in terms of my workspace but as I walk around the public spaces, I now see it with a different lens as to how, people have been intentional about placemaking. And maybe sometimes how people have not been intentional about placemaking and the missed the opportunities they have there."
Leonard Goh
Senior HR Director
Workforce Intelligence, Oracle Singapore
"Coming from Hong Kong Urban Renewal Authority, we've been thinking about how AI can be applied in place making events, or planning and organizing events or at the same time some data analysis aspect
I think this course has definitely supplemented what I set out to achieve in my learning trip to Singapore especially the case studies and the professor’s knowledge. I’ve also learnt a lot about Singapore’s systems and framework when it comes to placemaking and is definitely something that we can strive to achieve back in Hong Kong."
Choi Kaho
Manager
Urban Renewal Authority, Hong Kong
"As part of the Design AI Taskforce for the School of Design in Temasek Polytechnic, we've always been trying to find a link between AI and space making as well as placemaking. I was looking for more new insights from other perspectives and how that may be done.
Digital Placemaking has definitely done that for me as it has provided me with different perspectives and different sources of knowledge."
Dominic
Lecturer
School of Design, Temasek Polytechnic
FAQ
We offer a range of courses that can be stacked towards Professional Certificates in Community Management and Vibrant Places. Explore our full list of courses to find the right fit for you.
Yes, our courses are eligible for SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) subsidies and NTUC Union Training Assistance Programme (UTAP) support. Discover our full list of courses for more details.
Yes, by completing the required courses for a Professional Certificate, you will receive a certificate acknowledging your expertise in that area. Earning both Professional Certificates and an additional elective grants you an Advanced Certificate in Placemaking.
Our courses feature a rich array of local and international case studies, site visits, and real-world projects. You will gain insights from successful placemaking initiatives and learn from expert practitioners who have transformed urban spaces into thriving community hubs.
Yes, our courses may be eligible for CPD Points from the following accredited providers:
- Board of Architects (BOA) Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) CPD Programme
- Professional Engineers Board (PEB) CPD programme
- Singapore Institute of Landscape Architects (SILA) Accreditation Programme
- Singapore Institute of Planners (SIP)
- Society of Project Managers Singapore (SPM)
Refer to our individual course pages for more details.
Simply navigate to your desired course page and click "Sign Up Now". You will be connected to our secure registration and payment process.
For assistance, reach out to us at placemaking@nus.edu.sg.
Speak to Us
To learn more about NUS SCALE's Professional Development in Placemaking programmes, complete our enquiry form or contact us directly.
Our team is ready to answer your questions.